Tank level sensor and management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11656114-B2
Application number	US-202017076915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2020
Priority date	Oct 22, 2019
Publication date	May 23, 2023
Grant date	May 23, 2023

Abstract

A sensor assembly is positioned on an exterior of a tank to measure a fluid level within the tank. The tank is modified to include a surface feature and the sensor assembly is slotted within that surface feature. The sensor assembly includes a sensor device and a control circuit configured to drive the sensor device and evaluate readings to determine the fluid level. The sensor assembly further includes a communications interface to enable communication with a management system via a communications network. The management system can store information (e.g. fill status) related to the tank and additionally communicate with vendors or end users to coordinate resupply.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A level sensor system, comprising:
a tank configured to store a liquified pressurized gas;
a base for supporting the tank in a vertical orientation; and
a sensor assembly associated with the tank, the sensor assembly comprising:
an ultrasound sensor configured to output a sensor reading indicative of a fluid level within the tank;
a control circuit configured to interpret the sensor reading and determine the fluid level; and
a communications interface for transmitting the fluid level to a remote system; wherein the sensor assembly is encapsulated in a shock absorbing material and housed within the base.

2. The level sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising a tag associated with the tank configured to provide a tank identification via machine-readable or human-readable indicia.

3. The level sensor system of claim 2 , wherein the tag is at least one of a QR code, a barcode, an NFC tag, or a RFID tag.

4. The level sensor system of claim 2 , wherein the tank identification is transmitted to the remote system with the fluid level.

5. The level sensor system of claim 4 , wherein the sensor assembly is at least partially received within the recess.

6. The level sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the tank includes a recess formed on a bottom surface thereof.

7. The level sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly is mounted to the tank to position the ultrasound sensor at a center point of a bottom surface of tank.

8. The level sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly includes a stabilization member to bias the ultrasound sensor against a surface of tank and maintain contact.

9. The level sensor system of claim 8 , wherein the stabilization member is one of a spring, a memory foam, or a gel layer.

10. The level sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly further includes a temperature sensor.

11. The level sensor system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to interpret a temperature signal from the temperature sensor to determine a temperature reading.

12. The level sensor system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to compare the temperature reading to a threshold.

13. The level sensor system of claim 12 , wherein the communication interface is configured to communication an alarm notification when the temperature reading exceeds the threshold.

14. A method, comprising:
acquiring an ultrasound signal indicative of a fluid level within a tank from sensor assembly attached to the tank;
determining a fluid level within the tank based on the ultrasound signal; and
communicating the fluid level to a remote system;
wherein sensor assembly is encapsulated in a shock absorbing material and housed within a base of the tank.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein sensor assembly is positioned at center portion of a bottom surface of the tank.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
acquiring a temperature signal from the sensor assembly;
determining a temperature within the thank based on the temperature signal;
comparing the temperature with a threshold; and
communicating an alarm notification to the remote system when the temperature exceeds the threshold.

17. A system, comprising:
a level sensor system, including:
a tank configured to store a liquefied pressurized gas;
a base for supporting the tank in a vertical orientation; and
a sensor assembly encapsulated in a shock absorbing material and housed within the base, the sensor assembly comprising:
an ultrasound sensor configured to output a sensor reading indicative of a fluid level within the tank;
a control circuit configured to interpret the sensor reading and determine the fluid level; and
a communications interface for transmitting the fluid level to a remote system;

the remote system being communicatively coupled with the sensor assembly via a communication network, wherein the remote system stores tank information received from the sensory assembly in association with a tank identified corresponding to the tank; and
a client device communicatively coupled to the remote system and the level sensor system.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a tag attached to the tank, the tag providing the tank identification.

Assignees

• Amtrol Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Rego De Oliveira Tiago Teixeira
• Dias Sardinha Antonio Paulo Reimao
• Silva Vieira Pedro Alexandre Queiros Oliveira
• Senen Lanceres Mendez
• Correia Vitor Manuel Gomes

Classifications

• F17C2203/0663

  in form of fibers or filaments · CPC title

• F17C2201/058

  portable (<30 l) · CPC title

• F17C2203/0646

  Aluminium · CPC title

• F17C2201/0104

  cylindrical · CPC title

• G06K7/10366

  the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications · CPC title